South El Monte

Five cities in predominantly minority sections of Los Angeles County have been ranked among the poorest communities in the nation by a Chicago-based urbanologist whose survey has come under fire by local demographers and city officials. The 23-page report on the 60 wealthiest and 15 poorest U.S. suburbs, prepared by Roosevelt University professor Pierre deVise, shows per capita yearly income for Cudahy, Bell Gardens, Huntington Park, Compton and South El Monte ranging from $5,170 to $7,100.

This is a very pleasant urban oasis in the midst of what is, for many Angelenos, a freeway flyover zone in South El Monte. This section of Whittier Narrows Recreation Area features several lakes, abundant waterfowl, picnic tables, public restrooms and well-tended walking and jogging trails. INTERACTIVE MAP: Whittier Narrows Recreation Area 1. Start at Parking Lot D, off Santa Anita Avenue, and head north in the county park, following the paved path with the lake on your left.

Officials on Thursday cleared a homeless encampment along the San Gabriel River in South El Monte as part of a multi-agency operation. Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies combed through the bushes to remove the encampments, including trash and other items, as part of the Sheriff's Homeless Encampment Operation. Social services providers were also on the scene to provide assistance to transients. Those who agreed to be helped were offered transportation, authorities said. Homeless encampments are cleared periodically across the county.

Los Angeles County officials on Thursday plan to celebrate a former Safe Surrender baby's fourth birthday and launch a campaign to remind a new generation of mothers about the program. "Nicholas' fourth birthday is a reminder of the 109 precious lives saved by the Baby Safe Surrender program," county Supervisor Don Knabe said in a statement. The event comes weeks after a newborn boy was turned over at a hospital in Van Nuys under the program, which allows a parent to confidentially hand over an infant -- 3 days old or younger -- to any hospital emergency room or fire station in Los Angeles without threat of prosecution.

What does South El Monte have that other cities in the West do not? Freeway access and cheap rent, the Central Intelligence Agency says. For the past 18 months, the spy agency has run its West Coast recruiting operation out of modest offices at 1160 Durfee Ave. near the 605 and Pomona freeways. The South El Monte recruitment office may be one of the CIA's best kept secrets. "South where?" agency spokeswoman Kathy Pherson responded to an initial inquiry about the facility.

Authorities are investigating the death of a newborn baby found in a South El Monte trash bin Thursday. The body of the boy was found about 3 p.m. in the 2600 block of Chico Avenue, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said. The body was found in a trash bin, KTLA reported . The L.A. County coroner's office has recovered the body and detectives have finished processing the scene, authorities said Friday. Police found the body after doctors at a local hospital reported that a woman had walked into the facility bleeding profusely, then broke down and said she had just given birth and discarded the newborn in front of her apartment, KABC reported.

The City Council adopted an ordinance last week requiring all zoning, subdivision and land-use permits for hazardous-waste facilities to meet Los Angeles County specifications. Last November, the state Department of Health Services approved the county's new plan on hazardous-waste management. There are no hazardous-waste facilities operating in South El Monte, nor are any applying. City officials said the ordinance is a precaution.

The City Council has declared Pellisier Village, a residential tract in unincorporated county territory south of the city limits, within the South El Monte sphere of influence, a first step toward possible annexation of the area. Pellisier Village encompasses about seven blocks between the 605 (San Gabriel River) and 60 (Pomona) freeways and Peck Road. The city already has indicated that it wants to annex the industrial area along Rooks Road near the Pico Rivera border.

A South El Monte man remained hospitalized in serious condition Thursday with seven gunshot wounds received in what Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies said was a gang-related shooting on the Pomona Freeway Tuesday night. Gale Berry, 18, was shot six times in the back and once in the face when a van pulled alongside his Ford Maverick on California 60 near Rosemead Boulevard and the occupants opened fire with more than one gun after challenging Berry, investigators said.

The South El Monte City Council will hold a public hearing tonight to consider approving an $8-million bond issue to pay for street improvements, a beautification project and housing construction. The council is expected to vote on City Manager Rita Hardin's proposal to issue a kind of bond that it can approve rather than putting the issue before the voters. It would pay for an overhaul of sewers, fire hydrants, traffic signals and other projects.

Officials on Thursday cleared a homeless encampment along the San Gabriel River in South El Monte as part of a multi-agency operation. Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies combed through the bushes to remove the encampments, including trash and other items, as part of the Sheriff's Homeless Encampment Operation. Social services providers were also on the scene to provide assistance to transients. Those who agreed to be helped were offered transportation, authorities said. Homeless encampments are cleared periodically across the county.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe on Friday called the death of an abandoned baby in South El Monte an "appalling" tragedy that highlights the need to better promote the county's Safe Surrender program. The body of the baby boy was found about 3 p.m. Thursday in the 2600 block of Chico Avenue, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said. Police found the body in a trash bin after doctors at a local hospital reported that a woman had walked into the facility bleeding profusely, then broke down and said she had just given birth and discarded the newborn in front of her apartment, KABC reported.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe on Friday called the death of an abandoned baby in South El Monte an "appalling" tragedy that highlights the need to better promote the county's Safe Surrender program. The body of the baby boy was found about 3 p.m. Thursday in the 2600 block of Chico Avenue, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said. Police found the body in a trash bin after doctors at a local hospital reported that a woman had walked into the facility bleeding profusely, then broke down and said she had just given birth and discarded the newborn in front of her apartment, KABC reported.

Authorities are investigating the death of a newborn baby found in a South El Monte trash bin Thursday. The body of the boy was found about 3 p.m. in the 2600 block of Chico Avenue, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said. The body was found in a trash bin, KTLA reported . The L.A. County coroner's office has recovered the body and detectives have finished processing the scene, authorities said Friday. Police found the body after doctors at a local hospital reported that a woman had walked into the facility bleeding profusely, then broke down and said she had just given birth and discarded the newborn in front of her apartment, KABC reported.

Authorities are searching for two carjacking suspects involved in the shooting of a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy Sunday morning in South El Monte. The deputy, a 13-year veteran assigned to the department's Temple Station, was taken to a hospital, where he was treated for his injuries and released, said Capt. Mike Parker, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Department. His name was not immediately released. The deputy was wounded about 9 a.m. after exchanging gunfire with a man and woman who were riding in a 1994 Ford Explorer near the intersection of Durfee Avenue and Michael Hunt Drive, Parker said.

The City Council last week replaced one member of the Planning Commission, Luis Carrillo, with a new appointee, Art Jimenez. Also, Vera Valdiviez, who was elected to the council in April, was elected vice mayor. The vote was 4-0, with Raul Pardo, who also was nominated, abstaining. Mayor Art Olmos and Councilman Albert Perez were named to the California Contract Cities Assn. Councilman Jim Kelly and Pardo will represent South El Monte in the Southern California Assn. of Governments.

The federal Bureau of the Census has mailed questionnaires to all Monterey Park and South El Monte residents as part of a special census in 13 cities in Los Angeles County. Residents are asked to complete and return the questionnaires Sunday, which is designated Census Day. Other cities in the project are Compton, Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Lynwood, Maywood, Montebello, Pico Rivera, South Gate, Commerce and Huntington Park.

LONDON — Remember all that giddy talk about the huge strides U.S. boxing had made by winning its first four bouts at these Olympics? Never mind. Because the last five Americans to enter the London ring have left as losers, with bantamweight Joseph Diaz Jr., heavyweight Michael Hunter II and super-heavyweight Dominic Breazeale all falling like dominoes Wednesday in the round of 16. PHOTOS: London Olympics, Day 5 That leaves the U.S. careening toward another disastrous Olympic performance after winning only one bronze medal in Beijing four years ago. Once the world's dominant boxing nation, the U.S. has won only one gold since 1996 and only three medals since 2000.

LONDON -- Teenage bantamweight Joseph Diaz Jr. saw his Olympic dream come to a premature end Wednesday when he was outpunched by classy Cuban world champion Lazaro Alvarez, 21-15. Diaz, who boxes out of a tiny community center in South El Monte, wanted to turn pro two years ago to help out his father, who had lost his job as a truck driver. But his family persuaded him to take a once-in-a-lifetime shot at the Olympic Games instead. Diaz, a pro-style boxer, fought an active fight and appeared to rock Alvarez with shots to the head in the first and second rounds.